Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding in the Southeast


Since 2021 there have been significant increases in federal funding dedicated to climate, energy, and environmental initiatives. Landmark legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) mark the largest investments in climate mitigation in American history. While the resources available through these laws provide unprecedented opportunities for communities across the United States, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) wants to ensure that this funding is accessible to all communities in our region, particularly those who have been underserved by federal resources in the past.

This dashboard reveals trends in federal funding awards across the Southeast to understand where funding is going, what it is being used for, and ultimately how accessible it has been for communities without a history of substantial federal investments. Using this information, we aim to support decision-makers across the region in applying for funding and supporting under-resourced communities. This dashboard focuses on funding available through the BIL, and we plan to address additional sources of funding, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in future versions of this whitepaper as more funding is allocated.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was passed in November 2021 and allocates $1.2 trillion over ten years in funding for infrastructure projects including roads, public transit, broadband, and electric grid upgrades. As federal agencies continue to allocate BIL funding, this map shows how much funding recipients in the Southeast have received as of July 13, 2023. Funding is tied to the recipient’s location, which is often distinct from the place of performance, meaning that the funding does not necessarily fund work in that state However, the recipient location is the best available indicator of where this funding is invested.

Almost half of the new funding, or about $274 billion, will be allocated by the Department of Transportation (USDOT). Other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Department of Interior (DOI) will each award smaller amounts of funding, between $28 and $67 billion each (Badlam et al., 2021). Federal agencies will use the funding for operations or award most of the funding through direct payments, competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or will allocate it based on formulas that provide pre-determined amounts for each state/territory.

Funding Analysis

Southeast

Southeast Funding by State
State Funding perCapita
Florida $4,250,100,000 $191
Georgia $3,531,000,000 $324
North Carolina $2,582,900,000 $241
Virginia $2,385,600,000 $275
Tennessee $2,134,900,000 $303
Alabama $1,780,300,000 $351
Kentucky $1,640,500,000 $364
Louisiana $1,579,100,000 $344
Arkansas $1,491,200,000 $490
South Carolina $1,205,000,000 $228
Mississippi $1,009,700,000 $343

As of July 13, 2023, the federal government had committed $23.74 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to the Southeast, or about $283 per person. This is about 22.05% of total BIL funding committed nationally, while about 25.51% of the U.S. population lived in the Southeast in 2022. The Southeast per capita funding is less than the national average of $327. Florida and Georgia have received the most funding at about $4.2 billion and $3.5 billion respectively. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, the most populous states in the Southeast, have received the most funding but generally lower amounts of funding per person. South Carolina has received the second lowest amount of total funding and funding per person in the Southeast, indicating that more support is needed to successfully apply for funding.

Southeast Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $419,150,000
Area and regional development $52,588,000
Conservation and land management $368,040,000
Disaster relief and insurance $67,579,000
Energy conservation $357,620,000
Energy information, policy, and regulation $4,641,100
Energy supply $51,181,000
Executive direction and management $3,225,900
Federal law enforcement activities $24,776,000
General property and records management $5,807,600
General purpose fiscal assistance $11,421,000
Ground transportation $18,426,000,000
Other advancement of commerce $1,809,000,000
Other income security $50,133,000
Other natural resources $146,120,000
Other transportation $15,525,000
Pollution control and abatement $1,118,900,000
Water resources $658,460,000

Energy Funding

BIL funding represents one of the most significant investments in energy efficiency in history. About $360.2 million has been committed to energy conservation in the Southeast, with an additional $51.2 million in energy production and $4.6 million in energy regulation. Most committed energy funding is to support DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), with $227.7 million, and State Energy Program, with $62.0 million. WAP funds home improvements such as insulation, caulking, and replacement of inefficient heating and cooling systems for eligible income-qualified households, with the goal of improving health, affordability, and safety for people who cannot afford upfront capital needed for weatherization. State Energy Program funding can be used for a variety of applications, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuels and electric vehicles, and more.

Weatherization Assistance Program Funding
Recipient Funding
Florida Department Of Commerce $46,824,000
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority $42,157,000
Kentucky Housing Corp $25,971,000
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs $23,745,000
South Carolina Office of the State Treasurer $21,291,000
Louisiana Housing Corporation $15,497,000
Mississippi Department of Human Services $14,039,000
North Carolina Department Of Environmental Quality $13,466,000
Tennessee Housing Development Agency $9,952,100
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development $9,838,700
Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality $4,934,400
State Energy Program Funding
Recipient Funding
Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services Florida $16,837,000
The Virginia Department Of Energy $9,509,500
Department Of Environment & Conservation Tennessee $8,519,000
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs $7,361,700
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet $6,927,300
Executive Office Of The State Of South Carolina $6,883,400
Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality $5,397,600
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority $200,000
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources $200,000
North Carolina Department Of Environmental Quality $200,000

Alabama

Alabama Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $21,148,000
Conservation and land management $23,882,000
Disaster relief and insurance $3,847,500
Energy conservation $31,106,000
Federal law enforcement activities $50,000
Ground transportation $1,540,200,000
Other advancement of commerce $8,311,600
Other income security $4,052,200
Other natural resources $1,718,600
Pollution control and abatement $124,020,000
Water resources $21,930,000
Total $1,780,300,000

Spotlight on Projects

Anovion: The Department of Energy committed $117 million to Anovion to build a facility in Colbert County, Alabama, that can produce 35,000 tons annually of synthetic graphite anode material, which is used for EV and critical energy storage lithium-ion batteries. This grant will also be used in part to expand capacity at Anovion’s plant in New York.

City of Birmingham: The Department of Transportation committed $800,000 to the City of Birmingham, Alabama, to study and produce recommendations about how to reduce the negative impacts of rail and highway infrastructure on historically Black communities and historic neighborhoods in general.

Arkansas

Arkansas Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $24,496,000
Conservation and land management $13,498,000
Disaster relief and insurance $3,208,500
Energy conservation $10,332,000
General purpose fiscal assistance $5,277,600
Ground transportation $1,254,900,000
Other advancement of commerce $35,059,000
Other income security $1,627,300
Pollution control and abatement $40,571,000
Water resources $102,210,000
Total $1,491,200,000

Spotlight on Projects

Arkansas Black Mayor’s Association (ABMA): The Natural Resources Conservation Service committed $62.1 million to the ABMA for watershed protection and flood prevention in several cities across the state.

Westminster Village of the Mid-South: The Environmental Protection Agency committed $1 million to a retirement community in Blytheville, Arkansas, that provides affordable housing on a former air force base, a site contaminated with inorganic substances. The grant will help the nonprofit clean up the site to enhance the safety of its residents.

Florida

Florida Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $115,440,000
Conservation and land management $49,764,000
Disaster relief and insurance $69,684
Energy conservation $63,661,000
Federal law enforcement activities $9,454,200
General purpose fiscal assistance $2,165,800
Ground transportation $2,887,000,000
Other advancement of commerce $878,150,000
Other income security $10,313,000
Other natural resources $25,512,000
Other transportation $394,880
Pollution control and abatement $146,770,000
Water resources $61,451,000
Total $4,250,100,000

####Spotlight on Projects Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA): The Federal Transit Authority committed $16.1 million to CFRTA in Orlando, Florida to buy battery electric buses and charging infrastructure.

Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program: The ACE committed $1.1 billion to reconnect habitats in the Everglades, which have been isolated by the impacts of human development. According to the Biden Administration, this is the single largest investment in Everglade’s’ history.

Seminole Tribe of Florida: The Department of Commerce committed about $500,000 to the Seminole Tribe of Florida to establish a digital training program and provide broadband equipment to support schools, libraries, and workforce development.

Georgia

Georgia Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $51,799,000
Area and regional development $9,472,900
Conservation and land management $22,317,000
Disaster relief and insurance $6,839,500
Energy conservation $43,757,000
Energy supply $5,652
Federal law enforcement activities $1,896,600
General purpose fiscal assistance $1,201,700
Ground transportation $2,640,300,000
Other advancement of commerce $520,440,000
Other income security $8,155,200
Other natural resources $362,080
Other transportation $45,028
Pollution control and abatement $218,090,000
Water resources $6,349,700
Total $3,531,000,000

Spotlight on Projects

City of Atlanta: The Environmental Protection Agency committed $3.9 million to the City of Atlanta for brownfield remediation at five sites. The sites will be redeveloped or repurposed into affordable housing units, an environmental education center, parks, and mixed-use sites.

Solvay: The Department of Energy committed $178 million to Solvary to build a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) facility in Augusta, Georgia. The facility is expected to supply over 5 million EV batteries per year at full capacity and create more than 100 highly skilled manufacturing jobs.

Kentucky

Kentucky Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $17,922,000
Area and regional development $35,321,000
Conservation and land management $103,530,000
Disaster relief and insurance $3,725,900
Energy conservation $32,898,000
Ground transportation $1,194,100,000
Other advancement of commerce $169,380,000
Other income security $3,007,300
Other natural resources $454,360
Pollution control and abatement $73,215,000
Water resources $6,956,500
Total $1,640,500,000

Spotlight on Projects

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet: The Department of Interior committed $74.3 million to Kentucky for mine reclamation.

Ascend Elements: The Department of Energy committed $316 million to Ascend Elements to build a manufacturing and EV batteries recycling facility. The facility will produce enough precursor and battery-ready cathode active materials for 250,000 EVs per year.

Louisiana

Louisiana Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $9,790,500
Conservation and land management $40,293,000
Disaster relief and insurance $24,788,000
Energy conservation $15,697,000
Energy supply $15,990,000
General property and records management $469,240
Ground transportation $1,328,700,000
Other advancement of commerce $3,353,100
Other income security $2,587,800
Other natural resources $1,909,600
Pollution control and abatement $45,959,000
Water resources $89,551,000
Total $1,579,100,000

Spotlight on Projects

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana: The Department of Transportation committed $6.9 million to the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, to purchase three diesel-electric buses and construct new administrative and maintenance buildings.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources: The Department of Interior committed $25 million to the Louisiana DNR to plug and restore orphaned wells, implement methane monitoring protocols, and improve water quality monitoring.

Mississippi

Mississippi Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $12,081,000
Conservation and land management $7,746,400
Disaster relief and insurance $3,858,800
Energy conservation $14,039,000
Ground transportation $839,340,000
Other advancement of commerce $8,621,900
Other income security $1,821,300
Other natural resources $2,383,000
Pollution control and abatement $40,869,000
Water resources $78,954,000
Total $1,009,700,000

Spotlight on Projects

Syrah: The Department of Energy committed $220 million to expand Syrah’s natural graphite active anode material (AAM) facility. This facility will be the first large-scale natural graphite AAM facility in the United States, used for EV and critical energy storage batteries.

Mississippi State Department of Health: The EPA committed $19.4 million to the Mississippi State Department of Health for improving public water systems, including fixing leaky or old pipes, improving the water supply, replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks, and more.

North Carolina

North Carolina Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $95,753,000
Conservation and land management $5,651,000
Disaster relief and insurance $7,024,100
Energy conservation $13,666,000
Federal law enforcement activities $707,790
General purpose fiscal assistance $1,383,700
Ground transportation $2,124,800,000
Other advancement of commerce $8,292,000
Other income security $5,662,400
Other natural resources $8,444,300
Other transportation $850,830
Pollution control and abatement $96,429,000
Water resources $214,200,000
Total $2,582,900,000

Spotlight on Projects

Applied Materials: The Department of Energy committed $100 million to Applied Materials to build a pre-lithiation and lithium anode facility to support the EV battery supply chain. Applied Materials will build the facility in North Carolina and has not yet finalized an exact location.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: The Department of Commerce committed $500,000 to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for the initial phase of a broadband initiative, including rights-of-way, appraisals, project inspection fees, and project management.

South Carolina

South Carolina Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $11,147,000
Area and regional development $6,207,800
Conservation and land management $15,811,000
Disaster relief and insurance $3,784,100
Energy conservation $28,175,000
Energy supply $10,404,000
Ground transportation $1,040,100,000
Other advancement of commerce $10,524,000
Other income security $4,072,400
Other natural resources $7,960,200
Other transportation $393,510
Pollution control and abatement $50,191,000
Water resources $16,199,000
Total $1,205,000,000

Spotlight on Projects

City of Clemson, SC: The Department of Commerce committed $3.9 million to the City of Clemson, South Carolina, for zero-emission battery electric buses to replace diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life.

Tennessee

Tennessee Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $16,640,000
Area and regional development $1,586,500
Conservation and land management $11,034,000
Disaster relief and insurance $4,298,000
Energy conservation $67,312,000
Energy supply $12,579,000
General property and records management $4,754,300
Ground transportation $1,805,600,000
Other advancement of commerce $78,798,000
Other income security $3,603,000
Other natural resources $400,370
Other transportation $644,120
Pollution control and abatement $113,560,000
Water resources $14,026,000
Total $2,134,900,000

Spotlight on Projects

Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County: The Environmental Protection Agency committed $1 million to finance a revolving loan fund for brownfield cleanup. The grant will specifically target four sites, including a historic school for African Americans and a site at which the State of Tennessee stored contaminated soil in the 1960s.

Piedmont Lithium: The Department of Energy committed $141.7 million to Piedmont Lithium to build a lithium hydroxide facility in Etowah, Tennessee that will strengthen the domestic EV battery supply chain. The facility is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide per year, doubling the current U.S. production.

Virginia

Virginia Funding by Category
Category Funding
Air transportation $42,936,000
Conservation and land management $74,509,000
Disaster relief and insurance $6,135,000
Energy conservation $36,979,000
Energy information, policy, and regulation $4,641,100
Energy supply $12,202,000
Executive direction and management $3,225,900
Federal law enforcement activities $12,667,000
General property and records management $584,100
General purpose fiscal assistance $1,392,400
Ground transportation $1,771,000,000
Other advancement of commerce $88,051,000
Other income security $5,231,700
Other natural resources $96,975,000
Other transportation $13,196,000
Pollution control and abatement $169,260,000
Water resources $46,634,000
Total $2,385,600,000

####Spotlight on Projects National Association of State Energy Officials: The Department of Energy awarded $1.5 million to NASEO for their work building a national electric vehicle infrastructure network.